UK investors have claimed that a drug could potentially improve COVID-19 survival. Dexamethasone can reduce COVID-19 casualties by up to one third in severely ill patients.
What is Dexamethasone?
Dexamethasone is a steroid typically used for arthritis, allergic reactions and more. It has been shown to reduce the mortality rates of patients in ventilators as well as those receiving oxygen.
Findings of the Study
In the study, the researchers assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients who got usual care. The drug was administered either orally or through an IV. The drug reduced the deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment and breathing assistance and by 20% in those who required supplemental oxygen. However, the drug did not seem to have any effect on patients with mild symptoms or those who do not need respiratory support.
Benefits of Dexamethasone
The drug would prevent one death for every eight patients treated while on breathing support and one for every 25 patients on extra oxygen alone. That covers around 75% of patients in the hospital who will receive a mortality benefit from using this drug. The survival benefit is significant in those patients who are ill enough to require oxygen treatment. Even though the drug only helps patients who are critically sick, countless lives can be saved globally.
Is Dexamethasone readily available?
Dexamethasone is an old medicine that can be easily rolled out and made accessible to thousands of critically ill patients. The drug is easy to make, only needs a small dosage and can be scaled up quickly.
